Apple is facing a harder task than anticipated to get media firms to commit content to iPad, reports The Wall Street Journal.

According to the paper, television studios and newspapers are weighing up the advantages of selling their material on iPad against the "potential threats" the device represents to their current sources of revenue.

Media murmurs

"Apple is still negotiating with media companies for a price cut on TV shows that people can download onto the device," the paper states, sourcing people "familiar with the matter".

"Apple also hoped to work closely with newspaper, magazines and textbook publishers on new ways to digitally present print content on the iPad, but has for now put the effort on backburner," the paper adds.

As a result, TV subscriptions have reportedly been put on hold as Apple investigates alternative ways to deliver content on iPad - ways expected to better suit the providers, rather than the consumer.

To stream or not to stream

"Apple is discussing dropping the price of TV shows to 99 cents from the $1.99 and $2.99 charged for most shows on its iTunes store," the paper states.

"It's also possible TV companies could offer access to their shows on the iPad through applications that would stream the videos...but streaming is often limited by a tangle of licenses between producers and TV networks."

The networks are also reportedly concerned about Apple's reluctance to support Flash, the firm's very public spat with Adobe putting link-ups with the TV studios in jeopardy as many utilise the software in their multimedia content.

The struggle represents a marked contrast with the flurry of development studios eager to work on iPad, Pocket Gamer's own list of known or heard of games for the system already 67 titles strong at the time of writing.

The Wall Street Journal